Because your pet’s safety and well-being is our first concern here at Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital, we want to assure you that every effort will be made to make your pet’s visit as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.
Sometimes pre-existing conditions, unforeseen by us, arise such as skin allergies, shampoo allergies, moles, warts or cysts, clipper sensitivity, matting, fleas, fear, anxiety, behavioral issues, bone or joint sensitivity, heart condition, seizures, etc. We ask that you PLEASE make sure to inform us (front desk person and your dog’s groomer) of any potential issues PRIOR to grooming! Should the groomer discover anything that might be concerning during your pet’s groom, we will be sure to let you know.
Matted Pet: Pets with matted coats require special attention and extra time during their grooming session. A matt is essentially a mass of tangled hair. How does a matt form and where are the common spots on my dog? Without regular brushing, matts tend to form in areas where there’s lots of friction – think about the neck area where their collar sits, behind the ears (where we lovingly scratch them), under their chin, their armpits, underneath where their harness sits, their feet and on the back of their rear legs. Matting can also occur more frequently during seasonal shedding periods. Also, when a pet is bathed without a good brush out, matting can easily develop. Without continued maintenance, some such as Doodles, Bichons and Poodles are more likely than others to develop matting.
Matting can make it very difficult to see the skin beneath. As a result, the matts may conceal a skin condition, fleas, skin irritations, a lesion, scabs, or other conditions. Matts can be very difficult to remove, and in most instances will require the pet to be shaved. When necessary, removing a heavily matted coat includes risks of nicks, cuts or abrasions due to skin tags or skin masses trapped in the matts. All precautions for the removal of the matted hair will be taken. After effects of matt removal procedures can include, itchiness, skin redness, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions and failure of the hair to re-grow. In some cases, pets may also exhibit brief behavioral changes. Shaved pets are also prone to sunburn and should be kept out of the sun until the hair grows sufficiently to protect the skin. During the winter, if your pet needs to be shaved, a sweater or warm coat will be necessary to protect them from the cold.
Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital does not wish to cause serious or undue stress to your pet and will not continually de-matt your pet for you. In some instances, if the matting is very severe, the pet will need to be seen by the veterinary staff for a medical shave. The best form of defense against matting is preventing it in the first place by scheduling regular grooming appointments (every 4-6 weeks recommended for furry coats). first place by scheduling regular grooming appointments (every 4-6 weeks recommended for furry coats). Please note: An additional fee will be applied to all matted dogs. Our hourly rate for pet grooming services starts at $60. The hours involved in dematting your pet will reflect this pricing. Again, the BEST way to avoid matting is to have your pet on a regular grooming schedule. Depending on your pet’s coat (some hair matts quicker than other pets’ hair) we recommend grooming every 4-6 weeks or 6-8 weeks. Your groomer will be able to inform you of the best schedule for your pet’s coat maintenance.
Health or Medical Problems and Senior Pets: The grooming process can sometimes be stressful, especially for a senior pet or pet with health problems and can expose hidden medical problems or aggravate a current one during or after the groom. Because senior pets and pets with health problems going through the grooming process may have a greater chance of their well-being possibly being compromised – (health issues such as an injury, seizure, heart condition or other health concern/condition) – pets will be groomed to the degree of the best interest of the pet.
We will call you if we find any issues that need to be addressed by a veterinarian. If you agree to an examination, we will do our best to fit you into the medical schedule while your pet is here. This will incur additional costs.
Your Puppy’s 1st Groom/Pet’s 1st Groom: he first grooming experience for your puppy (or any age dog new to the grooming process) requires patience and understanding. Therefore, more time may be necessary to work with these pets. We want your puppy to have a fun and loving experience, as this is their first exposure to a lifetime of grooming. Therefore, WE WILL NOT force a puppy through a FULL GROOM, which includes a full body trim. Puppy’s 1st Groom includes: a bath, blow out and brushing, face trim, sanitary trim, paw pad trim and nail clipping. The first couple of grooming appointments require time for training and desensitization while completing the basics. This will allow your puppy/new dog to get used to the sound of the clippers, the dryers and overall process and routine of bathing, brushing, clipping and groom handling. This added care to their grooming process will help minimize potential stress and negative experience factors and result in a happy, well-behaved grooming client. Owners can help their puppies and new dogs become comfortable with the grooming process by regularly massaging their pet’s ears, feet and muzzle, and by brushing their hair and getting them used to the sound of a hair dryer.
Aggressive or Dangerous Pet: Owners MUST inform our staff if your pet(s) may bite, have bitten, or show signs of aggression towards people, other pets or specific grooming procedures (such as: pet may try to bite when its feet, face or sanitary area is touched, etc.) Muzzles may be used if necessary; Muzzling will not harm your pet, but rather it protects both the pet and the groomer. Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital reserves the right to refuse/stop services for such pet(s) at any time before or during the grooming process. This is for the pet’s safety, as well as for the groomer’s safety.
